SmartFem plastic surgery expert Dr. Richard Brown talks about breastfeeding after breast augmentation and whether the procedure actually affects milk production. Dr. Rick is a board certified plastic surgeon available for consultations in Scottsdale, Arizona and can be reached at (480) 947-2455.
Breast Augmentation is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures performed in our office. We spend at least an hour with our patients going over health history, what to anticipate before and after surgery, realistic expectations and the procedure itself. A common question that patients ask us is whether having a breast augmentation surgery will affect breastfeeding in the future.
The short answer is no. Having breast augmentation should not affect whether you will be able to breastfeed or not.
Two things that might make it more difficult to breastfeed include:
1. Location of implant. Breast implants can be placed in front of or behind the pectoralis muscle. If placed in front of this muscle, you could have decreased milk production.
2. Incision location. Breast implants can be placed through one of three incisions: inframammary (under the breast), transaxillary (through the armpit) and periariolar (around the nipple). Placing the implant through the periariolar incision can have the highest risk of affecting the milk ducts and breastfeeding.
Not all incision types, implant styles or implant placements will work for every patient. It’s also important to keep in mind that sometimes women will have issues with milk production even without a breast augmentation, and that there are ways to supplement breastfeeding.
It’s important to spend time with a board certified plastic surgeon before your procedure. In the consultation you should spend a significant amount of time going over which options will be best for you and your desired results.
